Break out the streamers, Raleigh.

After sitting at No. 22 in Charlie Creme’s original early-April ranking, NC State tumbled out of the updated late-April Way-Too-Early Top 25 and into the “Also Considered” pile at No. 29 once the portal finished its work. Six months later, they’ve stormed back to No. 27 in the October ESPN preseason poll.

Two spots. From one also-considered list to a slightly higher also-considered list. Historic.

Losing Zamareya Jones and the rest of the portal shuffle apparently didn’t wreck the program. It just required an entire offseason of quiet roster work to climb from the mid-20s all the way to the high-20s. Somewhere, Wes Moore is printing “We’re No. 27!” T-shirts.

In a sport where half the country treats the portal like a fantasy draft, NC State’s two-spot recovery is the feel-good story we all needed. The ACC’s fifth-place pick is basically knocking on the door of the top 25. Watch out, world!

Charlie Creme is a national treasure. Somewhere in Raleigh they’re calling it momentum.

Can’t wait for the AP Preseason Poll. Should be out this week. WooHooo!